Maren's Ninth Birthday Party

Why is it that when ever you plan a birthday party at your house, something has to go wrong? It really isn't true. Just this time. It hadn't rained here since February, but the first drops of the deluge began on Saturday morning and didn't end until Sunday. Just in time for the outdoor party. And did I mention that we had 25 kids? Why do I do these things?

At least the food turned out well. I think the brains were the favorite menu item.




The other menu items were purple and orange kettle corn, salty bones, severed monster toes, witches fingers, cheesy witches slop with bat wings and boogers on a stick. (I am pretty sure these were the least favorite). We followed this feast up making our own dessert. The kids decorated in such creative and spooky ways to make their creepcakes. I loved them.





The after dinner activities included a visit to the Dr. Callaway's Scientific Laboratory where they got to feel bat wings, skin, brains, human eyeballs and witches eyeballs. The finale was a trip to the Haunted Garage. We planned to have this spook alley outside in the backyard, but the rain forced a morph. It turned out fabulously creepy and with the help of uncle Josh and Papa, we really scared those partygoers.

Then we (meaning all the grownups at the party) were ready for some peace and quiet, and started the Hocus Pocus movie, hoping and praying for them to sit and watch the through the entire length. And they did. Yahoo!

We sang happy birthday and cut the cake. It was deliciously creeptacular.



Yeah. It took a lot of time to make this cake. Yeah, I know. I could have done something much more productive. But I love it. This may be my favorite cake ever, even though it was structurally unsound.

All in all it was a good, but crazy and noisy party. I can't believe it has been 9 years since my firstborn joined our family. She is turning out to be a pretty amazing little girl. Happy Birthday, MG.

High on a Mountaintop

Clay today. Britt wanted to post a few photos of the recent dirt bike trip to Tahoe that I was invited on. This is most of the group.



View from a fire tower we rode up to.






The good news is that I won the contest to not have to share a bunk the night we spent in John's camper in a Wal-mart parking lot. The bad news is that I had a crash on the second day. I have an MRI today to determine the extent of the damage to the posterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in my right knee.

Update: The PCL is badly damaged. No surgery though, since surgery to reconstruct the PCL is usually not successful. So 4-6 weeks of rehab and a brace for all activities will get me back in action at 90-95% of what my knee was. I asked the doctor if we could get that a little higher since my knee wasn't that good at 100%. He just laughed a laugh that said, "Cha-ching, this guy is gonna be a repeat customer."

Going Voting

Yea, I voted. It was SO nice to be able to walk in, get my ballot, and vote in under 10 minutes. They sure know how to do at least one thing right in California. No 3 hour wait with Kiera in the stroller for me. No siree!

Kiera and I went right after her gymnastics class. We were driving in the car and she asked if we were going straight home (we usually run errands). I said that we were going to go vote. Then she said that she needed to go home and get her live jacket. I thought and thought and couldn't figure out what she meant...

Me: You need your LIVE JACKET?
Kiera: Yup, my LIVE jacket.
Me: What do you need a Live jacket for?
Kiera: Well when the boat goes fast, you HAVE to wear your LIVE jacket.
Me: Oh, Oh, Oh! You thought we were going to go boating, not voting. Oh dear, this won't be nearly as fun.

If you haven't voted or boated please try to do so today, the latter might be a bit chilly. Don't forget your live jacket.